Hey y’all-hope that you had a very Merry Christmas! It’s hard to believe Christmas was already a few days ago. Does anyone else feel like the time between Halloween and Christmas was one huge blur this year? However, I’m in no hurry to end the Christmas spirit. I always keep my tree up and continue watching Christmas movies and listening to Christmas music until New Year’s Day. Although there’s technically still a few days left in December, I’m going to go ahead and share my December 2020 Favorites today since I have some 2020 recap posts planned for later this week.
(This post contains affiliate links and my Beautycounter consultant links. If you make a purchase through these links, I will earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for your support of Palmettos & Pineapples and my Beautycounter business.)
Here are my December 2020 Favorites!
Pottery Barn Initial Mug
I couldn’t resist grabbing this Pottery Barn Plaid Initial Mug at the beginning of the month because it’s festive for the Christmas season. But it’s not so overly Christmas-y that I can’t use at other times. Since I live in a small apartment with limited storage space, I can’t go overboard with buying seasonal items that will stay in storage 10-11 months of the year. Furthermore, while I can’t justify the cost of many Pottery Barn home items, this mug is very affordable. I highly recommend grabbing one for yourself!
Lilly Pulitzer Lilly’s Favorite Things PJ Set
I thought my bank account was safe from purchasing any more Lilly pajamas this season, since I’m personally not a fan of mermaid prints or dog prints. But when Lilly released the “Lilly’s Favorite Things” print right before Thanksgiving that included pajama items, they immediately went on my wish list. I grabbed the Ruffle Pajama Shorts and Long-Sleeved Button-Up Pajama Top during Lilly’s Cyber Monday event, and I’m so glad I did! Like all my Lilly PJs, they are so soft and comfortable. The “Lilly’s Favorite Things” print is a tribute to florals and animals that are quintessential Lilly. Even in the winter, I find that I still stay plenty warm at night with the combo of a long-sleeved pajama top and shorts. If you’re on the fence about getting some Lilly Pulitzer pajamas, I encourage you to go for it!
Lilly’s Favorite Things Pajama Pants
After receiving my Lilly’s Favorite Things Pajama Set and loving it so much, I wanted to add the Lilly’s Favorite Things Pajama Pants to my collection. This print is seriously gorgeous, and the pajama pants feel amazing! I wear my Lilly Pulitzer pajama pants as loungewear, aka my “daytime pajamas.” Since I will continue to work from home and have mostly virtual extracurriculars for at least the beginning of 2021, I know I will get a lot of wear out of them over the next couple months. If you got a Lilly gift card for Christmas, these pajama pants are one of the top items I recommend. Here’s a pic of me wearing them for a cozy Christmas Day at my parents’ house.
Beautycounter Softening Hand Duo
The Beautycounter Softening Hand Duo is one of the gift sets from the Beautycounter 2020 Holiday Collection. It includes a softening hand wash and softening hand cream in a lovely neroli scent, both in elegant glass bottles with pumps. When Beautycounter made the Softening Hand Duo a Hostess Reward at the beginning of December, I grabbed it for 50% off.
As a side note—anyone can host a 10-day Beautycounter online shopping pop-up and earn free or 50% off Beautycounter products as Hostess Rewards. There are different rewards tiers based on amount of sales your event generates. If you’re interested in hosting one of these events and earning free or 50% off Beautycounter products, please email me and I will share additional details.
Beautycounter allows consultants to redeem Hostess Rewards four times per calendar year. So with 2020 drawing to a close, I figured it was a good time to cash in on some rewards. I absolutely love this set. The glass bottles look absolutely gorgeous on my bathroom counter. I don’t typically buy Beautycounter Hand Wash, because I can’t justify the price for as quickly as I go through hand soap. However, I justified buying this set because of the 50% discount. Also, I plan to refill the glass bottles after I’ve used up the product in them. In addition, the Beautycounter Hand Wash lathers well, and I feel like I don’t need to use as much. Finally, having the hand cream with pump right beside the hand wash on my counter reminds me to apply hand cream each time after I wash my hands. As a result, my hands have been less dry since I started using the Beautycounter Softening Hand Duo a couple weeks ago.
More Mickey’s Runaway Railway Happy Meal Toys
In my November 2020 Favorites post, I mentioned the McDonald’s Happy Meal Toys featuring Mickey & Friends on different Disney World attractions. I was fortunate to add a few more to my collection in December. My own excursion to McDonalds got me Pluto on the Jungle Cruise. Then my cousin sent me an extra Mickey on Mission Space and Minnie on Pirates of the Carribean that she got from a McDonalds trip. I officially have 5 of the 10 Happy Meal Toys from the Mickey’s Runaway Railroad Promotion, which I suppose isn’t bad. These toys are no longer at McDonalds, but the next time McDonald’s does a cool Disney Happy Meal toy promotion I will definitely let y’all know!
Goop Himalayan Salt Scrub Shampoo
If you’ve been following me on Instagram, then you know I have struggled with stubborn greasy residue on the bottom layer of my hair, even right after showering. Someone on my Beautycounter team recommended the Goop Himalayan Salt Scrub Shampoo for people struggling with residue and build-up. So when Sephora had a VIB savings event earlier this month, I grabbed a tub. I’ve only used it once so far, but I’m pleased with the results. It lathers really well and is easy to spread through your hair and scalp. It also has a clean ingredients. Although it’s pricey, it will last for awhile since you’re only supposed to use every 2nd or 3rd shampoo. I wash my hair every other day, so I will only use this about once a week.
Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo
I also tried PureZero Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo to help with my hair residue issues. I had heard of using an Apple Cider Vinegar rinse to help remove hair buildup. However, I was a bit skeptical about trying the all-natural DIY method. After discovering various shampoos formulated with apple cider vinegar, I decided to try one. I chose the PureZero brand because Target had it in stock for shipping. Also, I wanted to test out a $6 bottle from Target before spending $30 for the apple cider vinegar shampoo at Sephora. In addition, the online reviews made it seem like the drugstore brand was just as effective if not more effective than the higher end brand.
I am pleased so far with using the PureZero Apple Cider Vinegar shampoo. It definitely feel like it gets my hair cleaner than the other shampoos I had been using. The PureZero Apple Cider Vinegar shampoo is fine to use as frequently as you like. So, I will use this when I don’t use the Goop Himalayan Salt Scrub. My straight, fine hair is never going to look as good on the second day as my friends with wavy and more coarse hair. And I’ve accepted that I have to wash my hair every other day (unless I plan to wear it up for Day 3 and on!). However, it’s nice feeling like my hair isn’t still dirty underneath right after washing!
MorningStar Farms Mickey Nuggets
I don’t hate cooking, but I’m not very motivated to cook for just myself. And I’m even less motivated to dirty up extra pots, pans, and utensils that require hand-washing afterwards. Plus, I feel like I have enough on my plate without planning ahead to purchase specific ingredients for a recipe. Therefore, Morningstar Farms products are a popular dinner item for me multiple nights a week. Although I’m not a vegetarian, I like that they are healthier than standard frozen chicken nuggets or corn dogs. When i was placing my grocery delivery order, I saw these Mickey-shaped meatless chicken nuggets pop up in the Shipt app. I had to try them, and they did not disappoint. They’re just as delicious as they are fun and adorable.
Sarah Flint Designer Shoes
Sarah Flint, a luxury designer shoe brand, reached out to me to become a Brand Ambassador this month. I am very selective about which collaboration offers I accept. But after doing research, I felt like Sarah Flint would be a good fit for my personal brand and blog. To welcome me to their Brand Ambassador program, Sarah Flint gifted me a pair of shoes. I chose the Natalie Flat in Saddle Vacchetta because a classic ballet flat with a dainty bow detail is perfect for numerous occasions. I absolutely adore them and look forward to wearing for years to come!
Sarah Flint shoes are made in Italy with the same quality and craftsmanship as other luxury brands. However, Sarah Flint is able to offer their shoes at a much lower price point, since they are sold direct to consumer without retail markup. I look forward to sharing more about how I style my Sarah Flint Natalie Flats over my next six months as a Brand Ambassador. In addition, I can offer you $50 off your full-price purchase of Sarah Flint shoes with code SARAHFLINT-BALIZS. You can enter the code at checkout, or click here and the code will automatically apply to your cart!
Ralph Lauren Spencer Sheet Set
I wanted to get another queen sheet set to replace an old hand-me-down set from my parents that I’d had for years. This old sheet set was a polyester blend and sometimes made me overheat at night. Thus, I specifically wanted my new sheet set to be 100% cotton. After looking at multiple sheet sets online and reading reviews, I decided on the Lauren Ralph Lauren Spencer Sheet Set. I ordered online from Belk for 60% off during Cyber Weekend. They feel absolutely amazing, and I don’t overheat at all. If you’re in the market for a new sheet set, these are worth buying. Belk frequently has them on sale as well. In addition, the fitted sheet is extra deep and will fit mattresses up to 18 inches. If you don’t need an extra deep fitted sheet, you can easily tuck the excess material under your mattress. Don’t they look so cozy?!
Folding a Fitted Sheet
Speaking of sheets, I finally taught myself how to properly fold a fitted sheet this month. Of course it’s not Martha Stewart quality, but it’s much better than how I used to fold a fitted sheet. I definitely feel a sense of accomplishment. This article helped me the most. See my handiwork below.
Christmas 2020
During this unusual holiday season, I’m especially thankful that my family lives close-by. I spent five days at my parents’ house celebrating Christmas with my parents, brother, and our cat. We ate lots of good food, and I watched the Disney Parks Magical Christmas Celebration, one of my favorite Christmas morning traditions. Although I missed my favorite Christmas Eve tradition of going to a Moravian Lovefeast with family friends, I still got to have a Moravian love bun and watch the service online.
Group Coaching with Rachel Awtrey
I had the pleasure of being part of Rachel Awtrey’s first-ever group coaching session for two weeks in December. Through the three group Zoom sessions, worksheets and journal prompts to get my creative juices flowing, and personalized feedback from Rachel, I gained some affirmation and clarity with respect to the mission of Palmettos & Pineapples. Stay tuned for an updated mission statement, plus some exciting new freebies in early 2021! Also, Rachel is offering another group coaching session in early January, If you’re a blogger or creative entreprenuer, I highly recommend it! You can register here, and note that I referred you!
Disney Christmas Cards
I regularly search shopDisney to see if they have any updated Duffy & friends merchandise. When I discovered this boxed Christmas card set with two designs that included Duffy the Disney Bear, I couldn’t resist buying it when Disney had a free shipping promo. I have so many boxed holiday cards, and next year I will actually send them out. You would think with more time at home this holiday season I would make more time to mail Christmas cards, but that simply didn’t happen!
Keep in Touch!
I hope that you enjoyed reading about my December 2020 Favorites! What’s something you’re loving lately?
Ps. To keep in touch, you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. In addition, I’ve become more active on Pinterest and would love for you to follow me there. I’d also love to add some extra happiness to your inbox with my weekly e-newsletter, and you can sign up here. I like to think of my newsletters as a virtual coffee chat. You will also get my FREE mini ebook on “How to Build Your Wardrobe on a Budget”!
Last but not least, join my Facebook group for community and more conversations here.
-xoxo Liz
